World
Carney opens 2-day Canada-EU summit in Montreal
BBC News·
Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meet in Montreal for a two-day Canada-EU summit. Von der Leyen said talks will start on making Canada the first associate member of the EU. Germany and others preferred wording on an ever closer association. Officials expect defence, minerals, research and trade deals.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Closer ties could expand student exchanges and business links across the Atlantic.
- Canada does not plan to pay an EU-style membership fee and would join specific programmes instead.
- Canadian defence firms already gained procurement access under an EU Security and Defence Partnership.
What's Happening
- Von der Leyen proposed associate membership after Carney addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
- Germany’s ambassador said some members were surprised by the associate member label.
- Carney said the nomenclature matters less than the difference it makes for Canadians.
Why Europe Now
- Carney has pushed Canada closer to Europe while dealing with a trade war with the United States.
- US President Donald Trump called associate membership laughable and threatened serious tariffs on Europe.
- Canada signed a May energy deal with Germany for long-term liquefied natural gas shipments to Europe.
all-news